Trap.



G. H. BAEHR.

TRAP.

APPLIOATION FILED 15110.28, 1912.

Patented Apr. 1,

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INVENj-on y @MEG/61u wlTpiEssEs 'AT1-annua G. H. MEHR.

. I TRAP. v APPLIGATION'H'LEYD 915028.19125 Patented 'Api'. 1, 191.3.

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l INvEm-on wrrmssses @nomm TED srarlnsjaarnnfr GUSTAV HERMANN BAEHR, OFBALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

TRAP.

`spcmfniesocm of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr.' 1, 1913.

Application led December 28, 1912. Serial No. 739,105.`

` Improvements in Traps, of which the following is a specification,reference being had therein to the accompanying drawing.

This invention relates to traps, and the objects of my invention are,first, to utilize electricity for exterminating rats or other rodentsentering the trap; second, to provide a trap that can be safely used inwharves` ware-houses and'other buildings: third, to provide a trap thatwill discharge the bodies from the trap as fast as they areexternunated, and fourth, to accomplish the above results by amechanical construction that is simple, diu'able and efficient for thepurposes for which it isintended.

With the above and other objects in view the invention resides in anovel construction,

Icombination and. arrangement of parte to be hereinafter specificallydescribed and then claimed. p

Reference will now be had to the drawH ings, wherein like numerals ofreference designate corresponding )arts throughout the several views, inwhicht-- Figure 1 is 'a side elevation of the trap, Fig. 2 is a plan ofthe suine partly broken away, Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view ofa portioinof the trap, Fig. 4.- is an end view of a portion of thc trap,Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line V-*V of iiig. 3l4ig.(i is an enlarged cross scctional view of a. portion of the platforn'i,and Fig. 7 is a perspective View of a detached plaie holder. A, trap inaccordion-c with thisl inventioi'i comprises a rectangular frame 1having the forward upper edge thereof cnt away, as at 2 and thc rearlower edge cut away, as at i The forward end of the fralne 1 is providedwith barrels 4 and connected to said barrels by a transverse pin 5 arethe barrels (3 of a gang-plank 7, said gang-plank having transversecleats or footholds S. Connected to the outer sides of the frame 1 attheforward end thereof by screws or other fastening means 9 are angular-lydisposed legs 10. Connected to the rear end of the frame l is anangularly disposed chute 11 having the upper end thereof cut away, asat' 12 to fit the rear end of the frame 1. The outer sides of the chute,at the upper end thereof, are

provided with side plates 13 and these plates have eyes 14 adapted toreceive pivoted hooks 15 carried by the outer sides of the frame l. Theplates 13 are provided with a depending yoke 16 supporting a transversebar 17 of insulation, and mounted centrally of said bar is aconventional form of push button or switch 18.

The bottom of the chute 11 is lcut anniv as at 19 and secured to thebottom of the chute' by screws or other fastening means 20 is a curvedresilient Contact member 21 having tincs 22. The endmost tines areprovided with al'igularly disposed legs 23 coperating with the legs 10in supporting the trap. Secured to the lower end of the chute 11 by`screws 23 is a contact member 2;@ having tines .211 that entend betweenthe lines 22 of the member 21.

'.lrunnioned in the frame l is a tiltabtc platform 24, said platformbeing tiltabiy sl'lpp'orted by a transverse pin 25 extending into theside walls of the frame 1. The

platform 24 has the forward end thereof Weighted or enlarged, as at 26to normally support the platform in a horizontal position. Mounted uponthe platform 24 is a reflector plate or mirror 27, said plate being heldbetween the said walls 28 of the platform, a clip 29 arranged at therear end thereof and cleats 30 carried by the walls 28 at the forwardend of the platform. The plate 27 is locked upon the platform 24 by auangle holder 31 secured to the inner sides yof the walls 28.

The inner side of the rear wall of the lframe 1 is provided with abracket. 32 for a vertical reflector plate or mirror 83, having theupper edge thereof rounded. This mirror cooperates with the mirror 27 indeceiving a rat or other rodent when the platform 24 is occu )ied by arodent.

The side walls o the frame 1 support the lower edges of a cage 34 andsaid cage adjacent to the mirror 33 is providedwith a depending baitholder 35 for a bait 36. The cage 34 is preferably arch shaped and theends thereof are reinforced' by wires 37 that engage in staples 38,carried by the outer si e walls of the frame 1.

The electrical connections of the trap are as follows :-A suitablesource of electrical energy, as a generator or series of batteries areused, in ,the latter instance, the batteries being lstepped up toproduce a current of sufficient voltage, for instance over 500 volts,

for electrocuting a rodent. electrical energy is designated as 40 and isconnected a Wire 39 to the push button 18. `The push button 18 isconnected by a 'Wire 4l to the resilient contacttmember 2l. The sourceof electrical energy is connected by a wire 42 to the stationary contactmember 22a and interposed upon the wire 42 is a switch 43.

When a rat or other rodent passes over the fulcrumed point of thetiltable platform whereby it can be packed into' a compara' tively smallparcel and sold in connection with a mail order business.`

What I claim is 1. In a trap, the combination with a suitable source ofelectrical energy, of a rectangular frame, a gangway connected to saidframe7 a chute detachably connected to saidl frame, a push buttonsupported by the upper end of said chute and in lcircuit with saidsource of electrical energy, a resilient contact lmember carried by thelower end Copies ot this patent may be obtained for The source of ofsaidchute and in circuit with one side of said source of electrical energyand said push button, a stationary contact member at the lower end ofsaid chute and in circuit with the other sidev of said source ofelectrical energy and maintaining a normally open circuit adapted to becompleted by a rats'body connecting said Contact me1nbers, a platformtrunnioned in said frame and adapted to actuate said push button by theweight of a rats body, a mirror mounted upon said platform, amirrorcarried by the rear end ot said frame, and a cage supported bysaid. frame.

2. In a trap, a rectangular frame, an inclined gangway leadingr toone-end of said frame, a tilting platform pivoted within said frame andhaving its upper surface formed as a reflecting' surface, a canopy eX-tendingover said frame and having one end closed by a mirror, theopposite end being` open and facing the end of the gangway, a baitholder carried by the canopy, and an inclined cliuteleading from saidframe and normally closed by said platform, said chute being recessed toreceive the platform when tilting to cause the rodent to be dischargedinto the chute, said recessed portion forming a stop to limit thetilt-ingr platform.

In' testimony whereof I aflix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ROBERT E. BLADES,

J. M. CARTER.

ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D.C.

